Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews celebrate 25 years

Twenty-five years ago, before the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians & Jews began, residents of different faiths didn’t have a forum to spend time together, learn about each other’s religions or even to fight discrimination and anti-Semitism when they saw it.

That “evidence of a social divide” between the faiths prompted a group of residents to start the fellowship, one founding member said.

A quarter-century later, the organization is celebrating its silver anniversary — noting some successes but also the fact that work remains.

The group now has about 200 members and is preparing to celebrate its anniversary at the annual Fellowship Friday volunteer event, which kicks off Friday at 8:30 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El.

This is the seventh year that the group will provide an opportunity for people from every background to come together and participate in one of five volunteer opportunities.

“When everyone is out there working together in the community, all the differences in our faiths disappear,” said Rabbi Michael Resnick, spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El and creator of Fellowship Friday.

Volunteers can choose from five volunteer options:

* to help spruce up the homeless shelter at Adopt-A-Family Program Reach;

* to clean up the beaches with Friends of Palm Beach;

* to lend a hand at Big Dog Ranch Rescue;

* to work on art projects with people with developmental or learning disabilities at the Levine Jewish Residential & Family Service;

* or to prepare brunch for families who stay at Quantum House while their children receive medical care at local hospitals.

”It’s an opportunity for people to work together and help those who are less fortunate,” said Fellowship Chairman John Randolph, who is also the town attorney. The volunteer activities provide an alternative for Black Friday shopping, Randolph said.

Founded in 1993, the Fellowship was created by a group of residents who wanted to address discrimination and anti-Semitism in Palm Beach by bringing together Christians and Jews. The earliest meetings were held in Herb Lee’s living room and the first official gathering was at The Colony.

During the early years, “Fellowship Week” featured a series of community events in the week before Thanksgiving. White carnations were distributed throughout town as a symbol of friendship. The fellowship hosted dinners and luncheons throughout the year to host speakers and promote conversation among people of different backgrounds.

“All the programs were designed to bring people together,” said Sherri Gilbert, executive director.

One program from the early days, interfaith dialogues, brought people together to discuss their respective religions, Gilbert said. The program is being revamped as Pizza and Pathways, which will include short films, pizza and conversation. They will be Feb. 28, March 14 and April 11 from 5:30-7 p.m. at St. Edward Catholic Church.

“It’s not just about tolerating people, it’s about engaging and being inclusive,” Gilbert said.

The Fellowship was awarded the racial justice award in 2015 from the YWCA, a national nonprofit aimed at eliminating racism and empowering women.

“I believe things have changed a great deal,” said Randolph. “People have become more united, more understanding of how and why we’re different and how we are the same in our faiths.”

In the ’80s, even Cotillion classes were segregated at a certain age, Gilbert said.

“When I came to Palm Beach in the mid-1980s, there was evidence of a social divide between Christians and Jews in the community,” said Louis Pryor, a founding board member and active member. “Believing that it ought to be addressed, I helped in the creation of the Fellowship in order to promote greater understanding and respect among residents of different beliefs.”

Though interfaith relations on the island have improved, there is still work to be done, Randolph said.

“With what’s going on in the world today and in the country, I think there’s a great need for people to be educated about people of different faiths and people of different beliefs,” Randolph said.

*

IF YOU GO

What: The Fellowship of Christians & Jews’ Fellowship Friday

When: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday

Where: It starts with breakfast at Temple Emanu-El, 190 N. County Road. Afterward, volunteers can choose to work at one of five volunteer locations.

To register: Go to palmbeachfellowship.net and email the registration form to info@palmbeachfellowship.net. The first 50 registrants will receive a free Fellowship Friday T-shirt.

Other ways to help: Volunteers also can donate non-perishable food, new toiletries and new, unwrapped toys that will be distributed to local organizations. Items can be dropped off at Temple Emanu-El from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday.

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